Device for centralizing strip material



u@ 23 W4. A. M. Mmm-EAT 29479:949

DEVICE FOR CENTRALIZNG STRIP MATERIAL Filed Sept. 9, 1947' 2SheeiS-Sheet l Aug., 23, W49 A. we. MacPHEAT 294799949 DEVICE FORCENTRALIZNG STRIP MATERIAL Filed sept. 9, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedAug. z3, 1949 2,479,949 DEVICE FOB CENTRALIZING STRIP MATERIAL AlexanderM. MacPheat, Brookfield,

lll., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application September 9, 1947, Serial No.772,955 9 Claims. (Cl. 164-59) This invention relates to a stockcentralizing device and more particularly to a centralizing deviceapplicable to a punch press for centralizing the strip stock relative tothe tools of the press.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a centralizingdevice of simple construction for centralizing strip stockrelative to apredetermined centerline.

In one embodiment of the invention as applied to a punch press forpunching strip stock into contact springs of predetermined length havingrounded front end portions, there is provided a block having a notchlocated on a predetermined centerline for receiving and centralizing theforward end of the stock, and in spaced relation to the block there isprovided a member oscillatable about an axis on said predeterminedcenterline and a pair of rollers mounted diametrically opposite andspaced equi-distant from the axis of the member to receive the stripstock therebetween. The member is stressed for rotation about its axisby a spring to cause the rollers carried by the member to move intoengagement with opposite edges of the strip stock and move the stockinto predetermined position on the centerline.

In another embodiment of the invention, a pair of cylindrical membersare mounted in spaced relation to each other in apertures in the diesfor oscillation about axes on a predetermined centerline on which thestock is to be centralized. A pair of diametrically opposed rollers,spaced equi-distant from the axis, are mounted on each of thecylindrical members, and are spaced apart to receive the strip stocktherebetween. Each of the cylindricall members is stressed for rotationby a spring to cause the rollers to revolve about the axis of thecylindrical member and engage opposite edges of the strip stock tocentralize the stock along the predetermined centerline,

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description thereof and the accompanying drawingsillustrating several embodiments of the invention wherein Fig. 1 is apartial plan view of the lower portion of a punch and die mechanism withthe centralizing device associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the mechanism shown in Fig.1 and indicated as taken substantially on the line 2-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view of 'a portion of thecentralizing device taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 4 is a detail bottom view of a centralizing member with the stockengaging rollers mounted thereon:

Fig. 5 is a partial plan view of the lower portion of a punch and dieconstruction showing a modified embodiment of the centralizing deviceassociated therewith;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in Fig.5 and taken substantially on the line 6-6 thereof; and

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view through the centralizingdevice taken on the line 'l-l of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a punch anddie construction for operating on strip stock I0 and forming it intospring contact members of predetermined length, each spring memberhaving a rounded forward end and a pair of perforations along itscenterline. A die I2 is secured to a die holder I3 which, in turn, ismounted on a platen |94 of the punch press. Die apertures I5 formed inthe die block I2 cooperate with a pair of punches I6 for perforating thestrip along the longitudinal centerline thereof. The punches I6 aresecured, by a retainer member I1, to a punch holder I8, which, in turn,is carried by a ram I9 of the punch press for reciprocation therewith. Anotching punch 2|, mounted on the punch holder and cooperating with anaperture 22 in the die I2, forms a notch in the side of the strip I0. Aconventional stripper plate 24 is mounted on a plurality of headed pins25 for vertical movement relative to the punches I6 and 2| and is urgeddownwardly by springs 26 mounted on the pins 25. A die block 30, mountedon the die holder I3, is provided with a curved cutting edge 3| inspaced relation to a straight cutting edge 32 formed on the die blockI2.l A punch 35 having similarly formed surfaces for cooperating withthe cutting edges 3| and 32 is mounted on the punch holder I8 and acts,upon the downward movement of the ram, to shear a blank or slug from thestock I0 and. thus sever a completed spring contact member and form arounded leading edge on the remainder of the strip of stock I0.

The strip I0 may then be advanced over the die block I2, either manuallyor by any suitable feeding mechanism, until it engages the curvedsurface 3'I of a notch 38 formed in the block 39 mounted on the dieholder I3 adjacent the die block l2. The curved surface 31 of the notch38 serves to centralize the forward end of the stock on a predeterminedcenterline 40 passing through the axes of the two punches I6 and to stopthe stock in a predetermined punch and die.

The other portion of the strip stock above the die I2 is centralized bya centralizing device 42 to bring the centerline of the strip inalignment with the centerline 40. The centralizing device 42 is mountedabove the strip I 0 in a recess 43 (Figs. 2 and 3) of a stationarystripper member 44, which is mounted on the die 30 and is provided Witha guide slot 45 through which the stock IIJ is moved. The centralizingdevice 42 comprises an arm or member 41, to the central point of whichis secured a pin 48. The pin 48, mounted in an aperture 49 in the block44, is positioned with its axis on the centerline -40 (Fig. 1) so thatthe member 41 may oscillate about an axis on said centerline. A pair ofdiametrically opposed pins 50 and 5l are mounted in the member 41equi-distant from the axis of the pin 48 and project downwardly from themem-Y ber 41 to receive a pair of rollers 52-52 thereon. The rollers 52are held in position between the lower surface of the member 41 and thetop surface of the die 3D and are spaced apart a distance greater thanthe width of the strip to receive the strip I therebetween. The pin 5I(Fig. 3) extends upwardly through a slot 54 .in

position relative to the -\.the stripper 44 and is connected to one endof a spring 55, the other end of which is connected to a pin 56 on thestripper 44. The spring 55 tends to rotate the member 41 and move therollers 52-52 equal amounts about the axis of the pin 48 toward thecenterline 40. Thus the rollers 52 will engage the opposite edges of thestock I0 to accurately centralize the intermediate portion of the stockon the centerline 40.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the rounded forward end of thestrip stock, as it engages the curved walls of the notch 33, is stoppedand centralized thereby and the intermediate portion of the stock isautomatically centralized by the centralizing device 42, whereby thestock is accurately positioned with respect to the centerline 40, andthat when the ram I9 descends. the perforating and notching dies act toperforate and notch the strip an-d the punch 35ats to sever the contactstrip from the stock and form a rounded end on the remainder of thestrip l0.

In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. to 7, thedie 60, mounted on a die holder 6l, has formed therein a pair ofapertures 62-62 forming cutting edges which cooperate with a pair ofpunches 63-63 to perforate the strip stock I0 at predetermined pointsalong the ce'nterline thereof. The punches 63 are secured by a retainermember 64 to the punch holder 65, which is secured to and reciprocateswith a ram 66 of the punch press. A stripper block 61, yieldably mountedon the punch holder 65 for vertical movement relative to the punches,serves to hold the strip l0 in position on the die 60 during thepunching operation. The stock strip I0 is guided for movement on a dieblock 60 and centralized thereon by a pair of centralizing devices69.*69. Each centralizing device 69 comprises a cylindrical membermounted for rotation in cylindrical apertures 1| in the block 60. Thecylindrical members 10 rest upon and are supported by the die holder 6Iand have their upper flat surfaces flush with the upper surface of thedie 60 and are rotatable about axes located on a centerline 12 passingthrough the axis of the punches 63-63. A pair of diametrically opposedpins 13, mounted equi-distant from the axis of the member 10, extendupwardly from the member 10 and have rotatably mounted thereon rollers14-14, which are spaced from each other a distance slightly greater thanthe width of the strip stock I0 for receiving the strip stock I0therebetween. The rollers 13 are of a height in excess of the thicknessof the stock I0 and are adapted to engage the opposite edges of thestock when the members 10 are rotated to move the stock into apredetermined position with the centerline thereof in alignment with thecenterline 12. are formed on members 18 and fit in recesses 11-11 in thedie 60 and serve to limit the rotary movement of the member 10. Helicalcompression springs 19, mounted in recesses in the die 60, engage thelugs 16 and stress the cylindrical members 10 for rotation. The rotarymovement of the cylindrical member 10 carries the rollers 14-14 aboutthe axis of the member 1U and causes them to move simultaneously towardthe centerline 12 and engage the opposite edges of the stock strip I0 toaccurately centralize the strip I0 on the centerline 12. The die 6D, atone end thereof, is provided with a curved shearing edge 82 in spacedrelation to a shearing edge 83 formed on the die 84, mounted on the dieholder 6l. The shearing edges 82 and 83 cooperate with similarly formededges on a punch 86 carried by the punch holder 65 upon reciprocation ofthe ram to punch a blank or slug from the strip I8 and form a roundedend on the strip at the same time that the punches 63-63 perforate thestrip. Upon completion of the punching operation, the strip may beadvanced until the rounded forward end thereof engages a stop surface 88of a block 89 mounted on the die holder 6l. The stop surface 88 servesto stop the strip IU in a predetermined position relative to the die sothat, upon the following downstroke of the ram, the punch 88, as itpunches the blank from the strip, severs the completed contact spring efrom the strip simultaneously with the perforating action of theperforating punches 63. In this construction of centralizing device, itwill be seen that the stock is guided for movement along thepredetermined centerline 12 by the rollers 14, which are yieldinglyurged for equal movement in opposite directions toward the centerline 12and into engagement with the strip, thus to accurately centralize thestripl on the centerline 12.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for centralizing strip stock on a predeterminedcenterline in a machine for processing said stock, the combination ofmeans supporting the strip stock for feeding movement along saidcenterline, an oscillatable member, a pair of rollers mounted on saidmember and spaced apart from each other a distance greater than thewidth of the stock, means mounting said member for oscillation about anaxis midway between the axis of said rollers and on said predeterminedcenterline and with the rollers positioned to engage the edge portionsof said stock, and spring means for stressing said member for rotarymovement to cause said rollers thereon simultaneously to move inopposite directions toward the centerline to centralize the strip stock.

2. In a device for centralizing strip stock on a predeterminedcenterline in a machine for processing said stock, the combination ofmeans supporting the strip stock foi` feeding movement along saidcenterline, a pair of centralizing means in spaced relation to eachother on said Laterally extending lugs 16 centerline, one of saidcentralizing means comline and with the rollers positioned to engage theedge portions of said stock, and spring means for stressing said memberfor rotary movement to cause said rollers thereon simultaneously to movein opposite directions toward the centerline to centralize the stripstock.

3. In a device for centrallzing strip material on a predeterminedcenterline, the combination of a support for said strip, an oscillatablemember moimted for pivotal movement about an axis on said predeterminedcenterline, a pair of members on said oscillatable member having a pairof strip engaging elements thereon diametrically opposed and spacedequi-distant from said axis and spaced apart a distance greater than thewidth of said strip for receiving the strip therebetween, and a springoperatively connected to said S- cillatable member` to stress saidmember for turning movement about said axis to cause said strip engagingelements simultaneously to move in opposite directions toward thecenterline to engage the edges of and centralize the strip.

4. In a device forcentralizing strip material on a predeterminedcenterline, the combination Y of a support for said strip, and a pair oicentralizing means in spaced relation to each other on said centerline,one of said centralizing means comprising an oscillatable member mountedfor pivotal movement about an axis on said predetermined centerline, apair of members on said oscillatable member having a pair of stripengaging elements thereon diametrically opposed and spaced equi-distantfrom said axis and spaced apart a distance greater than the width ofsaid strip for receiving the strip therebetween, and a springoperatively connected to said oscillatable member to stress said memberfor turning movement about said axis to cause said strip engagingelements simultaneously to move in opposite directions toward thecenterline to engage the edges oi and centralize the strip.

5. A device for centralizing strip material on a predeterminedcenterline comprising a member having positioning surfaces engageablewith the forward end oi said strip for centraliz'ing said forward end ofthe strip on said centerline, and a centralizing device engageable withan intermediate portion oi said strip comprising an osciliatable membermounted for pivotal movement about an axis on said predeterminedcenterline, a pair of rollers mounted on said oscillatable memberdiametrically opposite and equi-distant from said axis and spaced aparta distance greater than the width of said strip to receive said striptherebetween, and a spring operatively connected to said oscillatablemember for stressing said member for turning movement about said axis tocause the rollers thereon simultaneously to move in opposite directionstoward the centerline to engage opposite edges o! said strip andcentralixe the intermediate portion of said strip.

6. A centralizing device for strip material comprising a pair ofcentralizing means in spaced relation to each other and engageable withsaid strip material at spaced points for centralizing saidstrip on apredetermined centerline, each of said means comprising a member mountedfor pivotal movement about an axis on said predetermined centerline, apair of rollers mounted on said member diametrically opposite andequi-distant from said axis and spaced apart a distance greater than thewidthof said strip to receive said strip therebetween, and resilientmeans stressing said member for turning movement about the axis to causesaid rollers simultaneously to move in opposite directions toward thecenterline to centralize the strip.

'7. In aV device for centralizing a strip of ma-r terial on apredetermined centerline, a strip supporting member having a cylindricalrecess the axis of which is located on said predetermined centerline, acylindrical member mounted in said recess for rotation about said axis,a pair of rollers mounted on said cylindrical member diametricallyopposite and equi-distant from said axis and spaced apart a distancegreater than the width of the strip for receiving the strip therevbetween, and a spring operatively connected to said cylindrical memberfor urging said member for rotation to cause said rollers simultaneouslyto move in opposite directions toward the cenreriine for engaging theopposite edges oi' and centralizing the strip.

8. A centralizing mechanism for strip material comprising a pair ofcentralizing devices in spaced relation to each other longitudinally ofsaid strip and engageable with said strip material for centralizing saidstrip 'on a predetermined center line, one of said' centraiizing devicescomprising a member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis on saidpredetermined center line, a pair of strip engaging elements mounted onsaid member diametrically opposite and equi-distant from said axis andspaced apart a distance greater than the width of said strip to receivesaid strip therebetween, and means for stressing said member for turningmovement about said axis to cause said elements simultaneously to movein' opposite directions toward the center line to centralize said strip.

9. In a device for centralizing strip material on a predetermined centerline, the combination of `a support for said strip, an oscillatablemember mounted for pivotal movement about an axis on/said predeterminedcenter line, a pair of strip engaging elements on said oscillatablemember diametrically opposite and spaced equidistant from said axis andspaced apart a distance greater than the width of said strip forreceiving 'the strip therebetween, and means for stressing said memberfor turning movement about said axis to cause said strip engagingelements simultaneously to move in opposite directions toward the centerline to engag/d the edges of and centralize the strip.

ALEXANDER M. MACPHEA'I.

No references cited.

